Python VM on a Chip?

[gbp]

I doubt it. What would be the market?  Python is mostly used as a glue
language.  

Yes it is possible though.  

There is such a thing as a Lisp machine.  This is a special computer
that can only run lisp programs.  There are similar things for CADD. 
Printers understand postscript.  Special computers are used for
cryptography.

Java makes particular sense for this kindof thing because a lot of
people see java as a substitue for an operating system.  Python on the
other hands isn't meant to exist without a host OS.  

Jim Brennan wrote:
> 
> In the past I have read about companies implementing the Java VM on a
> chip.  Vendors such as Rockwell have been working with Sun to make it
> possible to implement embedded Java applications that run a hundred
> times faster then the software VM.
> 
> Has anyone ever considered doing the same kind of thing with the Python
> VM?  Is it even possible since the data types of Python are late
> binding?  Does anyone know of a commercial or university project that is
> implementing a Python VM using ASICs or FPGAs?
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Jim Brennan
> jbrennan at linuxfreak.com